Lancaster

Lancaster (pronounced "LANK-aster") was settled in 1852. Though it's just minutes from metropolitan Dallas, it retains the look and feel of a small town. Some of the finest Victorian homes in the county are preserved here.

During the Civil War, a pistol factory here produced the huge Colt .44 Dragoon revolver that collectors call the "Tucker & Sherrod Confederate Colt." Memorabilia of the CSA foundry and gun factory are preserved in the city library.

The city is home to Cedar Valley Community College and the University of North Texas-Dallas. The 18-hole Lancaster Country View Golf Course offers quality golf for all skill levels. Bear Creek Nature Preserve, in Lancaster Community Park, features primitive camping, birding and equestrian trails.